About the Murals

The seven murals that decorate the Arlington post office were commissioned by the federal government during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The artist received $800 to paint them.

Installed in 1940, the murals depict diverse scenes from local history with verve, and a few inaccuracies.

– Picnickers frolic at Great Falls.
– Army polo players compete at Fort Myer.
– American Indians roast deer on Roosevelt Island.
– John Smith meets the Massowomeck.
– Enslaved persons harvest tobacco.
– Robert E. Lee received his commission to lead Virginia’s armies.
– An apple-picking excursion.